Scarlett Rose has just had the night of her life--seven sexy cowboy brothers rescued her from danger after she was pushed off a cliff's edge by someone she trusted. Problem is, Scarlett has developed amnesia from the trauma and can’t remember anything about the accident, including the mystery villain. And before she’s even gotten a chance to recover, she finds out her new lovers are Texas longhorn shape-shifters claiming to be her destined mates!

Now the twins and triplets must go off for a weekend, leaving her with the two oldest Lenox brothers, Leo and Byron. Leo is in charge of the Lenox family, and now, for the weekend, he’s in charge of Scarlett. She’s thrilled to learn a few lessons from the alpha, as together they explore another layer of Scarlett’s newfound sexuality.

The adventure continues the morning after Scarlett's dramatic rescue and the ensuing mating ritual with her seven sexy longhorn beaus. With five of the brothers away, Scarlett is left to the tender ministrations of the eldest twins, Byron and the alpha male of the family, Leo. With Byron on calf watch, it's up to Leo to care for Scarlett and further her budding sexual education, something Scarlett is only too willing to participate and instigate.

Scarlett still suffers from temporary amnesia and is helpless against the efforts of her unknown evil nemesis. Despite the care and attention of her shifter mates, it's while Leo and Byron are otherwise occupied, that fate comes calling for Scarlett yet again...

Scarlett and Leo are so wrapped up in their new discovery of each other that it's all about the physical, while they share a first day alone. Yet all seven of the longhorn shifter brothers have tender feelings, newly realized after finding and claiming their one true mate. Those feelings are put to the test once again when Scarlett's life is in danger from poisoning and all seven of her heroes head home in a hurry to surround her and reaffirm their love. With culmination of physical intimacy with all her shifter mates at one time, a vision of her past returns to Scarlett and with it, the beginnings of another pathway down the road to recovery and discovery.

One character that really stood out for me is the wicked and evil stepmother. She is just as delightfully dastardly and debauched as could possibly be hoped for! Ms Newmar weaves her characters from grit and brawn, and a rawness that only seems fitting since all her heroes are bulls!

There's much humor in this book too and aside from it only being 80 pages long, there's action a plenty and the sex is hot, heavy and frequent. Ms. Newmar has set the stage for her next book about Scarlett and her longhorn lovers and it will be interesting to see what challenges and direction she takes them on. On the whole though, while I found the story likable and the premise entertaining, it was also rather forgettable. But if you like it light, fun, with a kinky twist on an old classic, Leo's Crown might be just what you're after.

Zetithians have a feline gene that gives the males remarkable sexual prowess. Refugee Dax is no exception—but as a virgin, he has no idea how to use it. His fumbling attempts at romance fail to tempt the beautiful Ava, but he is determined to learn the art of love. Let the seduction begin...

Virgin blew me away with its entertaining story line, exciting possibilities and more purr-fectly charming Zetithians for fans to swoon over. Ms. Brooks might have heard me squealing in delight when I found out that Virgin is a continuation of the series that I fell in love with. I’m pretty sure I was that loud in my excitement. This is most definitely a standalone read because it picks up with one of the survivors of that ship at the end of Hero. I met a lot of new and fascinating characters and I commend the author and her creative talents.

What am I referring to? Every time the author introduces a new character, he or she appears so naturally and provides ample opportunities for the hero and heroine through their interactions with them to grow, and for the plot to move forward. Another thing with Ms. Brooks’ writing is her sense of humor. If her characters can pull off a joke or pun or have dialogue scenes with witticisms that make a reader roll on the floor, the author finds every one of them and uses them to perfection. In this latest book, her sense of fun and the ridiculous is as sharp as ever. All someone has to do is mention Ms. Brooks’ name and I break out into a grin.

When the book starts, a reader meets the heroine, Ava, first. I got the biggest kick out of her but don’t let her anywhere near your frying pans. She’s a woman with smokin’ hot passions and I’m not talking about her cooking. She’s courageous, clever, quick on her feet and even more alien than the past heroines in the series. I am in love with her hair. Kudos to the author for making something so ordinary into the most amusing, unique and captivating feature a heroine has ever had. It is a brilliant stroke of genius and is another testimony to Ms. Brooks’ vivid imagination.

Dax is one of the newly found Zetithians and he’s so dreamy. I really enjoyed reading about his falling in love and how he goes about it. It’s not perfect and that made it all the more special. I also enjoyed the role he ends up playing. It was sort of mystical and very heroic. What makes it even better? He wasn’t doing it for the glory but something a lot more basic and romantic, love. My favorite description of him comes from Ava: “He was a big purring kitten of a man…” How can a reader not fall in love with him too?

I had an absolute blast with the secondary characters. Waroun constantly gave me the giggles, Kots was creepy and totally cool, Threldigan is a character I’d love to know more about, and Quinn was a character with a surprising bit of depth, after he took a bath.

Remember I mentioned fun dialogue? This line had me in stitches and is just a small example of the fun that is in store for readers throughout the entire book. “...you want to get dinner over with so you can get back to the ship and play snuggle bunnies with Super Kitten.” There are so many moments of wonderful repartee between Dax, Ava and the other characters that it made reading this story a breeze. I never knew who was going to say what and it guaranteed my absolute focus on the story. I didn’t want to miss a thing.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t tease readers with the hot factor in the book. Yes, the powerful snard is back but I also think the author challenged herself a bit with some of the physical relationship scenes this time around. It’s really eyebrow raising and quite erotic and yet even in the midst of all those increased pheromones, some scenes get tickled with the brush of humor to an enjoyable degree. I loved it!

It’s not all purrs, bites and sex in trees; there are some seriously nasty villains chasing Dax and Ava. At one point I thought there was one group but as I read I figured out that there were two factions chasing my new favorite hero and heroine and I didn’t know which group was worse and who was going to get to them first. It was a great bit of writing because it kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the idea that things the main characters thought they knew were actually mistruths and the revelations were gripping. The confrontation was full of action and crisp writing and I felt like I was right in the thick of it. It’s another strong point in this book’s favor.

Virgin is high caliber entertainment from beginning to end – it hit all my happy buttons and I couldn’t put it down. I continue to be amazed as to the quality and vibrant imagery painted within its pages, whether it be flora, fauna or characters. Ms. Brooks has consistently written well thought out intricate stories that amuse and entertain and Virgin continues the trend. It’s been an awesome reading experience and I am so glad the author has more coming out. I simply can’t get enough of that snard!

Aeryn never expected to fall for Rath, her gorgeous but cruel captor. But does he really want her, or just her immortality?

Can the stirrings of desire for one’s captor truly be love? Or has this captive Elvin princess merely developed a strong case of Stockholm Syndrome? Perhaps it’s a little bit of both.

Of royal birth and betrothed to the king’s son, Aeryn is a little ignorant of the world of humans. Despite the warnings from her fiancé and brother, she can’t help her curiosity. Surely watching these strange mortals from afar as they go about their everyday tasks is safe, right? Tales about a half-blood king, Rath, has not instilled a healthy dose of fear as it should, but rather fed an internal spark of interest. Could the rumors about his cruelty and sexual appetite be true? Or was her nanny just filling her head with silly tales to keep her interest in the human world at bay?

Half human, half elf, Rath can never truly embrace immortality unless it is given to him by a full-blood. Through the development and use of his magic, he’s learned to cheat death by taking the life-force of humans, but longs to find the one donor who can negate the need for further blood-letting. From the moment he sets eyes on Aeryn, he knows she’s the one. Now all he has to do is convince this sharp-tongued, strong-willed princess to give him what he desires, willingly.

Elfin Blood is one of those books that tests your limits when it comes to character development. There’s times when you’ll likely question Aeryn’s actions and response to her captor Rath’s harsh, sometimes brutal, seduction tactics. It takes the old “bodice rippers” to a whole new level in forced seduction. That being said, it also fulfills that secret fantasy many women have about being ravished against their will by a gorgeous man who manages to bring out a side of them kept hidden from a society built on the belief that women who are sexually deviant are improper and immoral. When Aeryn and Rath come together, their coupling is explosive and intense, and will likely have you squirming in your seat. The author does a wonderful job with detail and description. Overall, it’s a good story that brings out a myriad of emotions—some of which may have you pondering your own secret fantasies.

Take one bold, ruthless half-breed who takes what he wants without question, add one Elvin female with an inquisitive nature but a limited amount of experience in the ways of pleasure, and you get an awakening of sexual indulgence that’ll likely have you fantasizing about your own sex-filled abduction. If BDSM is your bag, then grab a copy of Elfin Blood, it’ll leave you hot, horny, and a little bit daring.

Seth Compton knew from the first that his boss’s daughter was all wrong for him. She was too feisty, too damned independent and, at seven years his junior, too damned young. When she comes home with a college diploma and fiancé on her arm, though, he can’t quite remember all the reasons he held her at arm’s length.

It’s not just his jeans-tightening reaction to her all-grown-up curves. Something doesn’t feel right about her impending marriage, and he won’t rest until he’s stopped her from making the biggest mistake of her life.

The morning after her wild bachelorette party, Jody expected a hangover. The surprise? Waking up tied to a bed with sexy-as-sin Seth. He’s got some wild idea about proving they belong together, but she’s not buying it. Besides, she has a promise to keep that’s too close to her heart to risk, especially not with a man who, until now, made his disinterest plain.

No one ever said Seth backed down from a challenge. She’s going to make him work for it? No problem. Luckily for him, he has plenty of rope…

Southern Comfort is book two of the Compass Brothers series from Mari Carr and Jayne Rylon, and I have got to admit, these brothers are all hot.

Seth Compton always knew he would leave his family’s Wyoming ranch for the wide-open Texas spaces. After ten years, he’s foreman on the Kirkland spread, his life is great, and that’s when the boss’ daughter comes home from college after graduation. Seth has avoided her advances for years, knowing that, at seven years his junior, she wasn’t ready for his darker side. Seth is dominant in the bedroom, and he wants Jody to be very sure she knows what he’s like.

Big surprise, though, when Jody returns home with her degree, and a fiancé and a desire to get married immediately. It seems that, after ten years of laying her heart out for Seth to walk on, she’s had enough. Now, just when Seth is ready to take what Jody offers, she has taken it off the market.

But there is more to the impending nuptials than meets the eye, and Seth is determined to prove to Jody that he is the only one for her. But after a screaming hot weekend tied to Seth’s bed, he leaves her while she’s asleep, convincing her she was a disappointment to him. She has no idea he left a note, or that he only left because of a family emergency. Can Jody and Seth clear up the misunderstandings keeping them apart? Can Jody accept the type of ‘tough love’ that Seth offers? Will these two ever get the happy ever after they both deserve.

I had a bit of trouble at first, getting into the story, but I went back and read the first book, then started fresh with Seth’s story. Once I got started this time around, I couldn’t put it down. The story was well crafted, and the characters are all real and very human. The emotions that this story pulled from me were very strong, and I was near tears a couple of times. I mean that in the best possible way, as this kept me reading long after I should have been sleeping.

Jody Kirkland is a wonderful character. She is honest, determined and loyal to her friends. She has made no secret of her adoration of Seth, but after ten years, she knows it is time to move on. She agrees to help her best friend get his trust fund by marrying him, but can’t lie to herself that she is over Seth. I loved watching her determination to move on to a life that didn’t include Seth: too bad her heart didn’t get the memo.

Seth Compton has worked hard to get where he is, with a good job as ranch foreman, and a place where he is content. He is honest and strong and handsome, and patiently waiting for Jody to grow into the woman he knows is perfect for him. I had to laugh at his reaction when she returned and brought a fiancé with her. I loved watching Seth break through her walls and convince her he always wanted her, but was waiting for her to grow up.

This is a terrific romance, but there are a couple of surprises here that I didn’t see coming. One involves Seth’s father, and I had to grab the tissues there. The other is much lighter, and it involves Jody’s fiancé Paul, and his unique solution to his legal quandary. I had to laugh at that one. This one starts out tame, but heats up quite nicely, and I recommend this to all of the die-hard romance junkies in the world. But keep the fan on high, and a cold drink is a necessity.

Gabriel Nicholas is kidnapped and dragged into a vast, underground chamber. Spotlighted in the center of that room is something—someone?—quite unbelievable. He’s also, without doubt, the most magnificent specimen of masculine beauty she has ever seen. He is absolutely stunning.

Despite the circumstances, Gabriel burns to touch all that gorgeous, gleaming skin—a living palette of shifting red and black. She wants to run her fingers through his silken, ebony hair, feel those strong hands on her flesh, feel that sinuous tail twine around her body as it twines around his.

He is Asmodeus, the Demon of Lust. He is legend come to life. Able to shift from demon to human form, Asmodeus must feed on sex and the blood of women to sustain his power. Gabriel has been brought here for him. To slake his every need. But she soon realizes that Asmodeus is just as much a captive as she is.

If this is the first in the series, I'm sitting up cute and begging for more! I absolutely loved "Demon's Kiss"; it has a great premise and absorbing characters; I adored the emotional bond and instant connection between Amadeus and Gabriel and the sexual heat between these two was absolutely scorching. What that boy could do with his tail left me breathless and panting for more…

Who would have thought been kidnapped , forced to submit and be the sex slave to a living, breathing demon, would mean instant recognition by Gabriel and Asmodeus of their one true mate in the other.

But how to protect the woman he knows should be his, when he too is a prisoner? This is just one of the challenges Asmodeus must face. He never thought he’d have a woman like Gabriel, his very own angel, to love him and need him and who is brave and strong enough to be there to help not only him, but his brothers in the Demonae too.

With a villain you’ll love to hate, a heroine you can’t help but want to emulate and a hoard of handsome shape-shifting Demonae stud-muffins, you'll be ripping your bodices open for air!

It’s not just erotic, although it very definitely is. It’s not just sensual or filled with some of the hottest yet poignant sex scenes I’ve read to date, though it’s all that too. It’s a love story, pure and simple, and the sexual act, the inevitable coming together of Gabriel and Asmodeus is nothing short of euphoric.

Well done V. J. Devereaux! I'm keen as mustard to snap up everything else you've written and have you on autobuy.

"Demon's Kiss" is a short story with impact; one that will twist and pull the heart strings, and leave you panting for more. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this one. I know I'm already eagerly anticipating book two!

When rancher Reece Halliday met the new manager of his fetish club, Rawhide, he was shocked to see Katie Warren, the woman he'd loved and lost because of his sexual preferences. But a lot of time has passed and Katie has discovered the lure and satisfaction of BDSM—including the pleasurable sting of the single tail whip. Will Reece be able to lure her back into his arms—and bed—when he cracks the whip during their private sessions?

Are you a fan of hot, Alpha cowboys who rule in the bedroom and know how to use a whip? If you answered yes, then you won’t want to miss Desiree Holt’s latest book in the Cowboy Kink series, Crack the Whip.

Reece Halliday is a man who knows what he wants. Complete and utter control in the bedroom. A sub who will submit to his every desire. Ten years ago, that wish destroyed his relationship with Katie Warren. Now that Katie’s back and working in his club, can he convince her to give him another chance?

Katie Halliday might be a submissive in the bedroom, but out of it? She’s a strong woman who knows her mind and what she wants in a relationship. Her feelings for Reece are stronger than ever, but Reece will have to earn her trust before she will completely submit to him.

Reece and Katie are wonderfully crafted and fully fleshed characters whose shared past lends credibility to the relationship in this highly erotic and hot, hot, hot short story.

Desiree Holt is a master writer of erotic romance and she unapologetically pushes the sexual envelope in Crack the Whip. Readers are going to love this latest installment in the Cowboy Kink series!

Wanting to prove she can be a strong, self-sufficient woman of the twenty-first century, Spring Ryan decides to spend her thirtieth birthday hiking the Appalachian Trail through the Smoky Mountains. Her third day in, she’s ready to give up and crawl back into the small box she’s lived in for a dozen years when a pair of Irish Wolfhounds cross her path. When they turn into gorgeous identical twins, she is amazed, especially when they claim she is their mate.

Adam and Brock Sullivan are the oldest of four sets of twins living in the hidden valley of Sanctuary. They had just about given up on ever finding their mate when they come across her just two miles from their home.

Can Spring make a life for herself in Sanctuary? Will her family accept her decision to live with and love both men?

The hiking guide mentions seeing squirrels, rabbits, birds and the occasional deer. It said nothing about giant horse-like dogs!! Actually, they’re Irish Wolfhounds but Spring’s reaction to their sudden appearance on the trail would have been pretty much the same. Dead faint!

Spring Ryan is tired of people looking at her face and assuming she doesn’t have a brain just because she happens to be pretty. Granted, her latest scheme to spend her birthday alone, on a fifty mile nature hike down the Appalachian Trail, might not help her argument. Don’t misunderstand; Spring is stronger and more independent than people, including her parents, give her credit for. A traumatic episode in her past has made her wary but she’s tired of living in fear.

A nice quiet hike over several days with plenty of time to think about what she wants to do with her life is on the agenda. Being confronted with a pair of hot and sexy Irish wolfhound shifter mates is NOT. Good thing Spring’s plans are flexible because once she has a taste of love al la twins Adam and Brock Sullivan, going back to a place that no longer felt like home holds very little appeal. But will she have to make a choice when reality and her job back home breaks into their secluded mountain sanctuary? Don’t get too caught up in the romantic element of this book, there is a sinister force just waiting to throw a wrench into this budding triad.

Spring Comes to Sanctuary is a perfect example of the imaginative talents of author Cooper McKenzie. Her stories are always entertaining in their settings and dialogue. The way she describes the remote haven of Sanctuary had me wanting to see this place. Oh well, if I can’t go there in real life I’ll settle for visiting through Ms. McKenzie’s vivid story telling.

An example of her powerful writing is the way she paints a tantalizing picture of the overwhelming effect the twins have on Spring. Someone recently asked the question if “fated mates” had become clichéd or over used in fiction. My response was similar to several others in that it depends on how the writer develops the relationship outside of the influence of “fate”. Ms. McKenzie does an exceptional job of creating chemistry and growth between Spring, Adam and Brock. By the way, in case you didn’t know, NEVER give wolfhound shifters high doses of caffeine…just take my word on that!

Spring Comes to Sanctuary is the first book in the Welcome to Sanctuary series. There are three more Ryan siblings, with Spring’s brother Winter’s book already available for reading as well. The whole series looks to be wonderfully conceived and plotted out. I’ve read Winter’s story and I’m anxiously awaiting younger sister’s Summer and Autumn to find their HEA’s as well. Pick up a copy of Spring’s story and be prepared to be drawn into a world fated mates and love everlasting.

Cowgirl KC Matheson is fresh out of ideas. Thanks to her father’s unlucky poker hand, her family is about to lose their ranch. Desperate to entice the winner to let her family keep their home, KC appeals to a sensual stranger, Rosalyn, to help awaken her inner vixen. A vixen with the womanly skills to make a deal with the devil.

Sent to fetch a companion for his partner’s pregnant wife, miner Jake Thompson never thought luck could change this fast. First, his royal flush lands him a ranch. Then a punch in the face. Now the rancher’s daughter, a woman with a body made for sin, is trying to seduce him into giving up his winnings. Jake has a better idea: her for the ranch. And to ensure she makes good on the bargain, there’s a catch—she has to keep his interest, or the deal is off.

The three set off on the two-day trek to Jake’s claim, experiencing wondrous delights in the cool mountain air. Then reality sets in, leaving Jake saddled with a mail-order bride, a deflowered virgin, and an unexpected desire to make things right with KC…forever.

Duty Bound is the second book in Myla Jackson’s Bound and Tied series. It is a historical, set in the mining town of Idaho Falls in 1860.

Thanks to a lucky poker hand, miner Jake Thompson is now the proud new owner of a Texas ranch. What he’s going to do with a ranch, he has no idea: he’s a miner, half owner of a claim with his partner Zach.

When a young boy punches Jake out because of the win, he tries to come up with a plan on what to do with the unwanted property. When the owner’s lovely daughter, KC Matheson, offers herself to Jake in exchange for the family ranch and the money Jake won, he has to make a decision.

KC has never been a girly girl; she’s the oldest of seven girls, and a ranch hand of some expertise. Zach Braun and his pregnant wife Honor have sent for a companion for Honor to help during her pregnancy, and KC turns to this woman, Rosalyn, for lesson in how to be a woman. Rosalyn is everything KC isn’t: soft, feminine and sensuous, and has the experience to help KC convince Jake to accept her offer.

Rosalyn is running from something, but she agrees to help, and the lessons quickly become so much more, as Rosalyn plays the seducer, under the guise of lessons. Once they are on the trail headed for the mine, things heat up between all three and before long, KC becomes a woman in the true sense of the word. When Jake realizes what he has done, he is ashamed and pulls away from KC, causing her much heartache. Can Jake convince KC to stay, after what he did? Will Rosalyn stay at the mine to help when Honor has the baby? What will happen when all the secrets are finally revealed?

I want to be honest and say I don’t usually read historicals, but this may change if I can get them with the quality and romance Ms. Jackson has put in this one. I liked the diversity in the three main characters, and how they each filled a need in the others.

KC Matheson is a sassy, independent female. She has been working on her father’s ranch her whole life, and hasn’t got a single feminine wile in her body in the beginning. I enjoyed watching her decide she would do whatever it took to save her family’s ranch--even give herself to a stranger. Her awakening at the hands, and mouth, of the sensuous and beautiful Rosalyn is intriguing, and very hot. I enjoyed watching as she blossomed into a young woman, on the edge of awakening her passion.

Rosalyn is beautiful, sensuous and experience, and very feminine; everything that KC is not. I loved watching her seduce KC, and teach her what pleasure was, and gaining her own pleasure along with it. She was honest about her needs, an unusual attitude in that time period. But Rosalyn is running, from what or who, we never really learn. I loved when she realized that Jake and KC were perfect together, and what she did to make it happen was delicious.

Jake is a strong, rough and honorable man. He had plans to return the ranch, even before KC hatched her plan, but realized he would need to work with KC to help both her father and KC herself save their pride. He is almost destroyed when he realizes that the woman he made love to with such passion was a virgin, and his guilt drives a wedge between them, until he comes up with a way to make it right.

The passion between the three main characters is hot beyond belief. The scenes when Rosalyn is ‘instructing’ KC in the finer points of seduction are hot beyond belief. It is never crude or ugly, and I loved the way Rosalyn was always empowering KC to become stronger and yet more feminine. My favorite scene is also the one that causes the rift between Jake and KC: the seduction on the trail when Jake ‘deflowers’ KC, not realizing she is still an innocent in spite of her words to the contrary.

There are a couple of humorous twists in this one, and there is a wonderful happy ever after for Jake and KC. I hope that, somewhere down the road, Ms. Jackson will give Rosalyn her own story so she can find her heart’s desire. I think those who like western romance with heat will love this one.

Emma Jean Dupree is a woman on the verge of turning forty. Repeated dreams of having sex with two men keep waking her at night. She takes it as a sexual sign and decides to pursue the two gorgeous men in her life.

David Delaney’s a police detective with boyish All-American charm and good looks. But he has a straitlaced sexual nature that needs her experienced hand to undo. Earl Lightfoot is every woman’s Native American Indian dreamboat of a hunk. He has a secret that Emma Jean uncovers with an innocent slap. Earl likes it rough and to be dominated.

Separately, she samples their sexual attributes only to discover she wants them both. Will they comply and fulfill her fantasy? It takes a strong-willed woman to convince two men to love her as much as she loves them.

Two men, two cocks, oh my.

If you don't have a fan, you may want to buy one of those hand held jobs because you will need it by the time you're done reading this story. Talk about heating the blood and keeping you on the edge of pure, unadulterated desire; “Double Dilemma” is the story that will do it. I agreed with the heroine at the start of the story: “sex never killed anyone”, but after reading the whole thing, I am not so sure.

Emma Jean is the owner of Devilish Delights, an adult sex store. Emma Jean knows her sex toys and she knows what she wants, which is two younger men, Earl Lightfoot and Detective David Delaney, in her bed at the same time.

I fell for the charm of both Earl Lightfoot and David Delaney and had to laugh at the rivalry and jealousies the two felt toward each other. However, they both wanted Emma Jean so they are willing to coexist if it made her happy. “Double Dilemma” is the first BDSM dominatrix themed story I have read and was surprise at how much I loved reading the female alpha attitude, and watching her in control of the sex scenes. It's so different from the erotic romance I'm use to reading but as a whole was very entertaining. I was definitely enthralled by all the added mystery and secondary characters that gave the plot a unique and fast pace that will reach out and grab you.

Ms. Nina is a brilliant writer, and kept things sizzling with the luscious sex scenes between the three main characters as well as added depth to the story line. You can bet I will never look at Maple syrup the same way again. I will be looking for more books written by Ms. Nina now that I have read this one. I can't wait to tell my friends about this book and author Tara Nina.

What happens to a young and naive Canadian woman traveling alone on a particularly evil night in the Scottish Highlands? She’ll get a lot more than she bargained for when she wishes for an adventure and finds herself part of a bloody pagan ritual…and inexorably linked to a wild and dangerous wolf.

Not exactly a virgin sacrifice; one must be a virgin to satisfy that requirement. Despite Lucy’s otherwise demure temperament, she’s had her fair share of sex. Unfortunately, her kidnappers don’t seem too concerned with that tiny detail.

All Lucy wanted was a little excitement in her life after her boyfriend dumped her “like a hot potato”. A trip to visit her friend Aileen in Scotland seemed like a good idea…at the time. Of course, she hadn’t anticipated traveling along the bumpy roads of the Scottish Highlands in a rickety carriage that threatened to topple over the edge into a bottomless abyss below. Nor had she imagined sharing the trek with a mysterious man who managed to conceal himself within the stygian interior like a shadow in the dark, keeping his visage hidden whilst they spoke about things that made her uneasy. Yet, despite his strange aura, Dougald managed to spark an interest deep inside her, one that both frightened and intrigued her at the same time. Before the night was through, she’d learn some things about Dougald and Scottish tradition that would change her life forever.

Howling Sacrifices was a very quick and satisfying read. This is one of those perfect lunchtime stories when you want a quick bite of something juicy—no pun intended. The story starts off with a great hook and keeps you reeled in until the end.

But this is not your typical mushy werewolf story. No way. This one has some blood a gore, perhaps enough to satisfy fans of horror as well. Yet that’s what gave it the most appeal—the author dared to be bold and different. There were very few editing errors (maybe one or two missing words), and the author does an excellent job with grammar, punctuation, and point-of-view. If I had one complaint, it would be the lack of Dougald’s character development. We learn enough about Lucy to get a feel for her predicament, but Dougald remains mostly a mystery. However, as this is mainly Lucy’s story, that can be overlooked. Overall, it’s definitely a worth-while read that’s sure to satisfy your need for a “quickie”.

If a little blood and gore doesn’t make you squeamish, and a darker erotica sounds appealing, then snatch up a copy of J.K. Coi’s Howling Sacrifices, it’s bound to get your heart racing, in more ways than one.

Trying to escape from her personal hell leads Carly to Bastien. Taking on a job as housekeeper, things rapidly are not what they seem around Bastien’s homestead. With wild animals coming in from the woods and her vicious ex-husband circling the front gate, Carly is desperate to find security and a feeling of calm.

Bastien is an alpha wolf and knows her the moment he meets her on the most basic of levels. From scent to curves, Carly draws his attention and holds it when he should be concentrating on pack business.

Just as he’s starting to make his move, they are separated by a secret government lab dedicated to turning soldiers into shifters and Carly ends up in a cage, left wondering if he is the one man who thinks she is worth rescuing.

When abuse is all you've ever known, how do you learn to trust in love again?

Carly has hit rock bottom. Living a life filled with abuse is no way to live and this latest incident is the last straw for her. She is mentally and physically exhausted and feels death would give her the freedom to end all the pain. This newfound peace of mind gives her the courage she needs to tell the truth to the police. With a restraining order as her only line of defense against him, she tries to remain incognito hoping her ex-husband will give up and move on. When she lands a job as a housekeeper in a secluded area, she begins to think her luck may have changed. Plagued by nightmares and trust issues of both man and beast, Carly soon realizes she’s not out of the woods yet.

Bastien has many secrets. Secrets about his dual nature, the true identities of his "friends", and the instinctual feelings he harbors for his housekeeper. Bastien is desperate for Carly to trust him and the animals he cares for, but knows that there are deep-seated fears he has to work through in order to gain her trust. Little by little, he breaks down those barriers while his own resolve to remain detached crumbles. He knows he must tell her things she may not be receptive to and a traumatic past experience has left him with little hope that this will be different. However, time runs out when Carly’s ex-husband pays a visit and his father comes to him with horrific images and a missing leg. The seemingly insurmountable barriers continue to intensify when Carly goes missing. Now a new threat has emerged of far more sinister proportions and a cold reality check is delivered that could have devastating results.

Once you’ve started reading this story, you’re not going to want to stop. There is a pleasant balance between the action sequences and the sexual tension that builds with a smoldering intensity. Although there were moments that seemed a bit unfocused, there is still so much depth in the plot and every scene is readily imagined. Reader’s will appreciate and connect with Bastien and Carly’s relationship as it is built over time with emotion and trust. It would be hard not to feel for Carly’s character and the physical and mental abuse she endured while with her ex-husband. Ms. Xander depicts some of the before and after effects of that abuse quite well, so reader’s should be warned if this is not subject matter they would like to read.

This being the first in a series and my first read by this talented author, I am excited for more. It will be interesting to see who the focus of the next book will be and how the plot will continue to thicken.

A woman from Peter's past is back to stir up trouble, so Ryan and Ty take their wife to Earth for a quick holiday. When Mikayla learns of the legal action against Peter, she insists on standing beside her man. Trouble is, that's exactly where Peter's ex-fiancée wants her.

Meanwhile, Lachlan, Brock, John, Matt, and Bryce are setting up the research base on a new, uninhabited planet. But there's something strange about this place, and it only gets worse when Mikayla arrives. Can they identify the source of the problem before their fascination becomes a danger to the woman they all love?

In this third book of Abby Blake’s series A Bride for Eight Brothers, the story gets better and more involved. This actually has three subplots, all woven together to make an enjoyable and entertaining book.

The contract on the ice planet has been completed, and while most of Mikayla’s husbands are moving the base to the next uninhabited planet, Mikayla, along with Ryan and Ty are on a brief vacation back on Earth. Peter is also on the planet, attending to some business. As the three decide to join Peter in New York, a chance meeting at the airport reveals details of how Mikayla ended up on the ice planet with her men, and they are able to prevent the same thing from happening to another young woman, Tracey, caught in the same man’s trap.

Tracey and Mikayla find they have much in common, and quickly become friends. When they get to New York, Mikayla discovers that Peter’s former fiancé is trying to sue all of her husbands for everything they have.

Then, on the new planet, something starts affecting the libidos of her husbands. Mikayla enjoys the extra attention at first, but as the men grow ever more attentive, the cause needs to be found. Can they survive the lawsuit and keep Peter’s ex from winning what they have worked so hard to build? On the new base, can they discover what is causing the men to lose control, before one of them actually hurts the woman they all cherish? Will they all get past this latest difficulty to become the happy family they once were?

There is a lot to laugh at in this episode of A Bride for Eight Brothers. I still enjoy watching as these nine people grow as a family, and support each other no matter what. Mikayla continues to be the sassy and smart woman we met at the beginning, but I love seeing the new sense of confidence she is gaining because of the love she gets from her men. I had to laugh when she learned that the new scientists coming to help were three women, but I also loved that she felt secure enough to accept them once they arrived.

The various issues raised in this story do find solutions and, in more than one instance, they are humorous and delightful. I like that Mikayla has gained a female friend in Tracey, and I hope to see more of her and her new husbands in future episodes. Of course, with eight hunks hovering around, there is a fair amount of hot and sexy action, but it is well done and appropriate to the storyline. I recommend this to all who like their science fiction on the hot side, but be sure to read them in order, as these are not stand alone books.

After anti-terrorist agent Jason DesJardin survived the explosion that killed Emily Holmes’s father, he went deep undercover. Guilt and his dark past kept him from returning for her. When Emily discovers ties between the old bombing and the terrorists, she finagles an assignment to Jason’s next mission. The balance of world power drops into her inexperienced hands, and she is forced to play a dangerous game of seduction with Mosel Reinhardt, the notorious international arms dealer. Is Reinhardt peddling the nanotech chip technology, or are Emily’s instincts about him correct?

The mission heats up when Jason finds he can’t resist Emily—agency computer genius gone femme fatale—any more than Mosel can. After years of waiting to have her again, the tables turn. Jason is unwilling to share her now, but will he be able to watch her seduce Mosel in order to find her father’s killer? Would she stop if he asked her?

The very first chapter grabbed my emotions and put them through the ringer because of the very intense writing and subject matter. Ms. Marchat certainly started this book off with an attention snagging set up and I couldn’t stop reading.

The author also set up the reader with knowing who the bad guy is but nothing prepares the reader for just how diabolical things get. The emotional connections were forged early on in the story so a reader feels connected to the characters which makes for what happens more poignant, more stark and effective.

I liked the build up between the hero, Jason and the heroine, Emily. It was actually brewing for many years so it’s not a sudden thing but it’s very well played out and when they finally catapult into physical love it was explosive. But the author had a bit of a twist up her sleeve that I didn’t expect. It upped the ante on the internal conflict scales and Ms. Marchat certainly knew how to capitalize on the angst. And it ended up being the beginning of a very twisted and suspenseful romance riding on the back of one well told and intricate external conflict.

Emily grows up fast during the course of the story. She loses her innocent view of the world despite being intellectually informed about things; living them made the greatest impact. She turns into a very solid leading lady and shows her backbone and fortitude. She also gets to explore her sensual self but the results could be her undoing.

Jason was a leader from the get go but in this story his old pain and personal fears come back to haunt him. He’s fighting not only the bad guys but himself. He is a complicated personality and I liked how the author lets a reader in on his thoughts when the story is told from his point of view. Then again, I appreciated getting the other side of the coin from Emily as well. Ms. Marchat plotted out their growth individually and as a couple well and it kept my attention.

Interestingly enough, the bad guys get a bit of their point of view told in this story which surprised me. It was an interesting touch and made the stakes that much higher. I agreed with Emily, that even someone who is really bad has some good qualities, sometimes they’re even hard to resist. What an astonishing dilemma. Other secondary characters filled out the story with well balanced personalities that benefited and showcased the hero and heroine.

As for the external conflict, Ms. Marchat wrote an engrossing spy tale of suspense peppered with thwarted sensual tension that kept me flipping the pages.

Across a Crowded Room is a gripping tale of intrigue and suspense with tons of sensual teases and excitement to keep readers flipping pages at a furious pace. It has a satisfying happily ever after between characters I really connected to. I had a great time reading this story because I never knew where it was going to go and how justice would ultimately be served. Romantic suspense readers are going to get what they are looking for when they dive into Ms. Marchat’s well told tale. I’m so glad I read it.

" RBN

~ Stockholm Surrender

~ Trouble In Thigh High Boots

# Blood of Luna

~ Skye High

~ Climbing Her Tower

# Ava's Pleasure

* Shadow of the Wolf

^ Seduction of My Proper Wife

My Immortal

Believe

Blue Light Special

Shut Up and Kiss Me

~ Teacher Her Manners (Sizzler)

^ Blood of Luna

Love Beyond Sight

The Crawford Boys Series

Turkish Delights

Shut Up & Kiss Me

Fire Woman

RATING EXPLANATION:

1 Star -- At this time, we at Whipped Cream do not post these reviews. If the book was boring, badly edited, poorly written, had little or no plot, stilted dialogue, and/or unsympathetic characters, we will decline the review.

2 Stars -- Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you'd re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library - not buy- and never check out again.

3 Stars -- Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn't consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There's a chance you'll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn't go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars-- Very Good. You're glad you were the one who got to review this book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars -- Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

WC Best Book - For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you're not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise - and reserved for only a few.

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